This sweet chilli Philly upgrade is perfect for Friday night drinks

Name: This sweet chilli Philly upgrade is perfect for Friday night drinks
Cook time: 30 min
Yield: 6-8 as a light snack
Cuisine: Modern Australian
Ingredients: 1 block firm feta; 3 tbsp crunchy chilli oil; 2 tbsp honey; finely chopped chives, to serve

Katrina Meynink

August 2, 2024

Baked feta with crunchy chilli oil and honey.Katrina Meynink

easyTime:< 30 minsServes:6-8 as a light snack

There was a time when a block of Philly cream cheese on a plate covered in sweet chilli sauce and a few sprigs of coriander was the snack-with-drinks du jour. I grew up watching that whacked on a platter as soon as guests were coming over. People went mad for it.

This is an updated version with a little more crunch and interplay of sweet, sour and funk. It’s snack perfection in four ingredients.

Ingredients

1 block firm feta
3 tbsp crunchy chilli oil
2 tbsp honey
finely chopped chives, to serve

Method

Step 1
Preheat the oven to 170C fan-forced (190C conventional).
Step 2
Place the feta in a baking dish. Add the crunchy chilli oil and honey to a bowl and stir to combine before spooning it over the top of the feta. Bake for 10–15 minutes or until the cheese has warmed through. For a few colour marks on top of the feta, turn the grill function on (optional) for the final minute of cooking time, watching like a hawk so as not to burn the seeds in your crunchy chilli oil.
Step 3
Serve as-is or transfer to a serving plate and drizzle the honey-chilli oil mixture over the top. Scatter with chopped chives and serve with crackers or spring roll crisps (see tip). Best served warm.

Tip: Serve with some flash-fried spring roll pastry as crisps.